Method of controlling water/hydrogen isotopic exchange reaction plant

Abstract

A method of controlling a single temperature type water/hydrogen isotopic exchange reaction plant comprising an electrolytic system, an exchange reaction column and a recombining system for separating degraded heavy water into product and waste both of which have a stable concentration. The control method comprises controlling an extracting quantity of waste so that a heavy water concentration of water at an intermediate portion of the reaction column is kept constant, and controlling an extracting quantity of product so that a water quantity inside the exchange reaction plant is kept constant.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of controlling a single temperature type water/hydrogen isotopic exchange reaction plant comprising an electrolytic system, an exchange reaction column and a recombining system for separating heavy water having a concentration lowered by light water into high concentration heavy water and high concentration light water in a process comprising the steps of introducing the heavy water having a concentration lowered by light water into the exchange reaction column, providing for the heavy water to flow to the bottom of the exchange reaction column and into the electrolytic system to be discharged therefrom as high concentration heavy water, while providing for the light water to flow to the top of the exchange reaction column and into the recombining system to be discharged therefrom as high concentration light water, the method comprising the steps of: controlling the quantity of the high concentration light water discharged from the recombining system so that the concentration of heavy water at an intermediate portion of the exchange reaction column is kept constant, and   controlling the quantity of the high concentration heavy water discharged from the electrolytic system so that a water quantity inside the isotopic exchange reaction plant is kept constant.   
     
     
       2. A method of controlling a single temperature type water/hydrogen isotopic exchange reaction plant comprising an electrolytic system, an exchange reaction column and a recombining system for separating heavy water having a concentration lowered by light water into high concentration heavy water and high concentration light water in a process comprising the steps of introducing the heavy water having a concentration lowered by light water into the exchange reaction column, providing for the heavy water to flow to the bottom of the exchange reaction column and into the electrolytic system to be discharged therefrom as high concentration heavy water, while providing for the light water to flow to the top of the exchange reaction column and into the recombining system to be discharged therefrom as high concentration light water, the method comprising the steps of: dividing the light water discharged from the recombining system into a flow of the high concentration light water and a flow of reflux water and recycling the reflux water back to the exchange reaction column,   controlling the flow rate of the reflux water to the exchange reaction column so that the concentration of heavy water at an intermediate portion of the exchange reaction column is kept constant,   controlling the quantity of the high concentration light water discharged from the recombining system so that a water quantity in the recombining system is kept constant, and   controlling the quantity of the high concentration heavy water discharged from the electrolytic system so that a water quantity inside the isotopic exchange reaction plant is kept constant.   
     
     
       3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the concentration of heavy water at the intermediate portion of the exchange reaction column is kept constant by measuring the density of the water.